National Export Strategy on the way

AS efforts and calls intensify for diversification of local products targeted for sale on international markets, the Ministry of Trade and Industry has embarked on a project to design the country’s National Export Strategy, which should be finalised by the end of the current financial year.

Yesterday stakeholders from various institutions gathered in Windhoek and started on a training programme on how to come up with the National Export Strategy. The National Export Strategy is a policy framework in line with Vision 2030 aimed at positioning Namibian products in the global market.The main idea is to focus on competitiveness, which means ‘the ability of a country to make products that meet the test of international competition while expanding domestic real income’.The training was conducted by the three experts – Isaac Njoroge, a trade adviser with the Commonwealth Secretariat, Brian Barclay of the International Trade Centre and Professor Owen Sake from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.The Acting Director of International Trade in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Annascy Mwanyangapo, told The Namibian that players involved in coming up with the national strategy were drawn from various institutions including Government ministries, the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Polytechnic of Namibia, the Namibia Manufacturers Association and the Namibian Economic Policy Research Unit.She said after the training this week a national consultant will be appointed and a working plan drafted.Mwanyangapo said the blueprint for the National Export Strategy should be in place by March next year, which will in turn act as a guide for the export promotion agency, which is in process of being set up.Barclay said the training methodology should be a realistic plan that will be implemented and not shelved away.The Minister of Trade and Industry, Immanuel Ngatjizeko, commended the idea, saying the National Export Strategy would serve as a framework and tool that will guide and direct efforts made by the Government and private sector in seeing Namibian products competitively penetrate the markets of other countries.He said this was an advancement of policies made in the past in the export area.”What we want to do now is to come up with a blueprint that presents a streamlined approach and guide our activities and response to the challenges of the new and globalised environment.Therefore, the export strategy will provide direction for the development and promotion of locally produced goods and services and ensuring their international competitiveness.”It should be expected to make a positive contribution to the attainment of our national objectives,” the Minister said.Ngatjizeko called for the speedy designing of the framework.NCCI Chief Executive Officer Tarah Shaanika said his organisation was happy to be part of this important national process, adding that the strategy would help the country focus on areas where Namibia has a competitive edge.He said this strategy would also assist individual countries on trade and investment issues.The anticipated outcome of the national export strategy would include creation of entrepreneurial opportunities, fostering of export trade, creation of domestic and foreign investment opportunities and improvement of foreign exchange earnings and Government revenue.The National Export Strategy is a policy framework in line with Vision 2030 aimed at positioning Namibian products in the global market.The main idea is to focus on competitiveness, which means ‘the ability of a country to make products that meet the test of international competition while expanding domestic real income’.The training was conducted by the three experts – Isaac Njoroge, a trade adviser with the Commonwealth Secretariat, Brian Barclay of the International Trade Centre and Professor Owen Sake from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.The Acting Director of International Trade in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Annascy Mwanyangapo, told The Namibian that players involved in coming up with the national strategy were drawn from various institutions including Government ministries, the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Polytechnic of Namibia, the Namibia Manufacturers Association and the Namibian Economic Policy Research Unit.She said after the training this week a national consultant will be appointed and a working plan drafted.Mwanyangapo said the blueprint for the National Export Strategy should be in place by March next year, which will in turn act as a guide for the export promotion agency, which is in process of being set up.Barclay said the training methodology should be a realistic plan that will be implemented and not shelved away.The Minister of Trade and Industry, Immanuel Ngatjizeko, commended the idea, saying the National Export Strategy would serve as a framework and tool that will guide and direct efforts made by the Government and private sector in seeing Namibian products competitively penetrate the markets of other countries.He said this was an advancement of policies made in the past in the export area.”What we want to do now is to come up with a blueprint that presents a streamlined approach and guide our activities and response to the challenges of the new and globalised environment.Therefore, the export strategy will provide direction for the development and promotion of locally produced goods and services and ensuring their international competitiveness.”It should be expected to make a positive contribution to the attainment of our national objectives,” the Minister said.Ngatjizeko called for the speedy designing of the framework.NCCI Chief Executive Officer Tarah Shaanika said his organisation was happy to be part of this important national process, adding that the strategy would help the country focus on areas where Namibia has a competitive edge.He said this strategy would also assist individual countries on trade and investment issues.The anticipated outcome of the national export strategy would include creation of entrepreneurial opportunities, fostering of export trade, creation of domestic and foreign investment opportunities and improvement of foreign exchange earnings and Government revenue.